EN 242 - Popular Literature

Description
The purpose of EN 242 is for students to think critically about what makes literature popular and what that popularity says about our culture. Readings may include science fiction, mystery, suspense, detective, horror, romance, fantasy, post-apocalyptic, magazines, comics, graphic novels, web sites, blogs, or the literature of advertising. Critical thinking skills are used to help determine differences between popular fiction and literary fiction as well as differences between adult and Young Adult literature.

Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: EN 101 (C or Higher)
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corequisite(s): None
Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: Yes
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
Programs Where This Course is a Requirement:
None

General Education Requirement:
Humanities
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
3. Critical Thinking: Gather and synthesize relevant information, evaluate alternative perspectives, or understand inquiry as a means of creating knowledge, 4. Cultural Competence: Understand diverse interpersonal and cultural perspectives through analysis of scholarly or creative works
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Analyze popular literature to understand how it reflects our world and ourselves.

2. Define the values, life styles, tastes, and manners of an audience by analyzing the popular literature it reads.

3. Describe a partial picture of a culture at a particular stage of its development based on the analysis of literature. (GELO 4)

4. Understand, through literature, the different perspectives on community, national, and international issues, and see how literature can inform these perspectives. (GELO 3)

5. Analyze popular literature and judge its worth according to established objective standards.

6. Identify the formulas of the major popular genres.

7. Translate or explain what written information means and/or how it can be used.

8. Understand that there are different perspectives on community, national, and international issues.
Course Outline:
I: Overview (2 Weeks)

A. Rationale for the study of Popular Literature. Popular Literature will be defined and a set of standards or criteria for evaluation discussed.

B. Historical, cultural, and sociological approaches to the study of popular literature will be offered. Some consideration of “what makes popular literature popular” will be introduced.

C. Following this introductory unit, the instructor will be free to employ any or all of the remaining units.

II: The Popular Novel (8-10 Weeks)

A. Development of character, plot and theme in the popular novel will be studied. Various types of the popular novel, such as the Post-Apocalyptic, Detective-Mystery, Science Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Fantasy, and Sociological-Protest novels may be studied.

B. The cultural and sociological significance of the popular novel may be demonstrated.

C. Young Adult and Adult novels of the same genre may be compared: Possible novels include the following:

1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - JK Rowling (fantasy)

2. The Magicians - Lev Grossman (fantasy)

3. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins (post-apocalyptic)

4. Station Eleven - Emily St. John Mandel (post-apocalyptic)

5. Moonlight Mile - Dennis Lehane (suspense/detective)

6. Zero Day - David Baldacci (suspense/detective)

7. Lock In - John Scalzi (sci-fi)

8. Cat’s Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut (science fiction)

9. A Space Odyssey - Arthur C. Clarke (science fiction)

10. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury (science fiction)

11. Or any other popular novel on the bestseller list at some time

III: Magazines and Comics as popular literature (1-2 Weeks)

A. Various types of magazines and comics will be discussed and categorized. The class will establish possible reasons for their popularity - as instruction, as escape, and/or entertainment. Sociological and cultural values will be considered, along with themes and formulas. Available sources include:

1. Sports Illustrated (sports)

2. People (entertainment)

3. Playboy/Playgirl (sex magazines)

5. Cosmopolitan (female beauty and sex)

6. Comic Books (most genres)

7. Harpers or Psychology Today (informational)

8. Any current movie magazine could also be used. The source material is abundant, current, and changeable

Approved for Online and Hybrid Delivery?:
Yes
Instructional Strategies:
Lecture: 5-15%

Facilitated Discussion: 35-55%

Mediated Instruction: 15-25%

Group Work: 15-25%

Audience: 10-25% (Major project presentation, when students are in front of the class)
Mandatory Course Components:
EN 242 should include a research-based writing project which enables students to pursue their own interests and to explore some aspects of Popular Literature and/or Popular Culture. This project should be in addition to other graded work (midterm exam, short assignments) throughout the semester.
Equivalent Courses:
None

Accepted GRCC Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Credit: None
AP Min. Score: NA
Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: None

Course prepares students to seek the following external certification:
No
Course-Specific Placement Test: None
Course Aligned with ARW/IRW Pairing: NA

Mandatory Department Assessment Measures:
None

Course Type:
General Education- Offering designed to meet the specific criteria for a GRCC Distribution Requirement. The course should be designated by the requirement it fulfills.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 3
People Soft Course ID Number: 100672
Course CIP Code: 23.01
Maximum Course Enrollment: 25
General Room Request: None

High School Articulation Agreements exist?: No
If yes, with which high schools?: NA
Non-Credit GRCC Articulation Agreement With What Area: No
Identify the Non Credit Programs this Course is Accepted: NA

School: School of Liberal Arts
Department: English
Discipline: EN
Faculty Credential Requirements:
18 graduate credit hours in discipline being taught (HLC Requirement), Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details:
None

Major Course Revisions: General Education Review
Last Revision Date Effective: 20220216T10:50:20
Course Review & Revision Year: 2026-2027